Familial gastrointestinal stromal tumor syndrome: Phenotypic and molecular features in a kindred

Frederick P. Li, Jonathan A. Fletcher, Michael C. Heinrich, Judy E. Garber, Stephen E. Sallan, Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, Anette Duensing, Matt Van De Rijn, Lowell E. Schnipper, George D. Demetri

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

140 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Members of a family with hereditary gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and a germline KIT oncogene mutation were evaluated for other potential syndrome manifestations. A tumor from the proband was analyzed to compare features with sporadic GISTs. Patients and Methods: Members of a kindred in which six relatives in four consecutive generations comprised an autosomal dominant pattern of documented GISTs and cutaneous lesions underwent physical examination, imaging studies, and germline KIT analysis. A recurrent GIST from the proband was studied using microarray, karyotypic, immunohistochemical, and immunoblotting techniques. Results: In addition to evidence of multiple GISTs, lentigines, malignant melanoma, and an angioleiomyoma were identified in relatives. A previously reported gain-of-function missense mutation in KIT exon 11 (T → C) that results in a V559A substitution within the juxtamembrane domain was identified in three family members. The proband's recurrent gastric GIST had a 44,XY-14,-22 karyotype and immunohistochemical evidence of strong diffuse cytoplasmic KIT expression without expression of actin, desmin, or S-100. Immunoblotting showed strong expression of phosphorylated KIT and downstream signaling intermediates (AKT and MARK) at levels comparable with those reported in sporadic GISTs. cDNA array profiling demonstrated clustering with sporadic GISTs, and expression of GIST markers comparable to sporadic GISTs. Conclusion: These studies provide the first evidence that gene expression and mechanisms of cytogenetic progression and cell signaling are indistinguishable in familial and sporadic GISTs. Current investigations of molecularly targeted therapies in GIST patients provide opportunities to increase the understanding of features of the hereditary syndrome, and risk factors and molecular pathways of the neoplastic phenotypes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2735-2743
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology
Volume23
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 20 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Familial gastrointestinal stromal tumor syndrome: Phenotypic and molecular features in a kindred'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this